BRICS wraps up New Delhi Summit with 45-page declaration

The two-day 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi ended on Sunday with leaders adopting the 45-page New Delhi Declaration, calling for stronger multilateral cooperation amid global economic uncertainty, supply-chain disruptions and rising geopolitical tensions.

Hosted by India under its BRICS presidency, the summit brought together leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, along with leaders from other member and partner countries.

The summit focused on four broad pillars — resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability — with discussions centred on maintaining global economic balance and strengthening multilateral stability.

On the sidelines, Modi held separate talks with Xi, marking the Chinese president’s first visit to Indian soil in seven years. The two leaders stressed the need to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control and agreed that differences should not develop into disputes. They also reaffirmed the importance of respecting existing border agreements and pursuing ties based on mutual respect, sensitivity and mutual interests.

In a separate meeting with Putin, Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy, rather than military action, were the only viable means of resolving conflicts in the Middle East and the Black Sea region.

The New Delhi Declaration condemned all forms of terrorism, terrorist financing and unilateral military conflicts, while calling for greater representation and a stronger voice for the Global South in international decision-making.

Modi also warned against the concentration of technological power and the use of critical minerals as tools of political pressure, saying discriminatory practices were undermining global trade and collective progress.

The summit concluded with BRICS leaders visiting the Bharat Innovates technology exhibition in New Delhi, where Modi interacted with and encouraged young innovators.